✅ 1. Description
Common Names: Mangosteen, Queen of Fruits
Local Name (in Kerala): Mangosteen / Mangaathaa Pazham
Scientific Name: Garcinia mangostana
Appearance:
- Round fruit with a thick, dark purple rind when ripe
- Inside has white, juicy segments, sweet and tangy
- Each segment may or may not contain a soft seed
Special Feature:
- Considered one of the best-tasting tropical fruits
- Known for its cooling properties in traditional medicine
Fragrance:
- Mildly sweet, pleasant tropical aroma
Use:
- Eaten fresh, used in juices, jams, and desserts
- Rind used in traditional medicine
✅ 2. How to Plant
- Climate: Tropical or humid subtropical (needs warmth and rain)
- Planting Method:
- Use healthy grafted saplings (seeds take years)
- Dig a 2×2 ft pit and fill with garden soil + compost
- Spacing: 25–30 feet apart if planting multiple trees
- Ideal Time: Monsoon season (June–August)
✅ 3. Plant Size
- Height: Can grow up to 15–25 feet (slow grower)
- Growth Rate: Very slow in early years
- Lifespan: Long-living tree with proper care
✅ 4. Fruiting Time
- Time to Fruit: 8–10 years if grown from seed, 3–5 years from grafted plant
- Season: Typically fruits in summer or early monsoon
- Yield: Increases with age; mature trees can yield 200–300 fruits per season
✅ 5. Plant Type
- Type: Evergreen tropical fruit tree
- Growth Habit: Upright, dense foliage
- Root Type: Taproot system
✅ 6. Caring Tips
🌞 Sunlight
- Needs partial to full sunlight (young plants need light shade)
💧 Watering
- Keep soil moist but not waterlogged
- Requires regular watering, especially during dry months
🌱 Soil
- Prefers well-drained, rich loamy soil
- pH: 5.5 – 6.8 (slightly acidic)
- Add compost, cow dung, and coconut husk for moisture retention
🌿 Fertilizer
- Apply organic manure every 3 months
- Use balanced NPK (10-10-10) during the active growing season
- Add micronutrients like magnesium and zinc
✂️ Pruning
- Prune lightly to maintain shape
- Remove dead or diseased branches regularly
🐛 Pest & Disease Control
- Watch for mealybugs, ants, and fruit borers
- Use neem oil spray or organic pest control monthly
🌸 Mulching
- Add dry leaves or coconut husk around base to retain moisture and suppress weeds